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motives fufficiently ftrong to impel us to aftion. Aftivity and toil being 

 neceffary, not only to the perfeftion, but to the prefervation of our 

 nature ; many of our feelings and propenfities, are implanted purpofely 

 to make us aftive. Thus, we fee, that the pernicious, the felf-torment- 

 ing propenfity, which eagerly receives the moft monflrous and terrific 

 rumours, and by impHcit belief, raifes them to importance ; which dif- 

 pofes the young and old alike, to fwallow fuperftitious legends, and 

 tales of fairies, enchanters and apparitions ; proceeds from the fame caufe, 

 which gives the ceremonies of a rigid and gloomy religion fuch a ftrong 

 hold on the mind, through the force of the imagination-; and induces 

 men to croud to executions, and other fpeftacles of diftrefs and horror. 



The author of our nature has framed us for an aftive probation ; 

 in which we may earn by our aftions a fuperior exiftence, and fit our 

 mental faculties, advanced to perfeftion by exercife, for the enjoyment 

 of a more exalted rank, in the chain of being, and the perception of 

 more pure and refined pleafures. A torpid ftate, therefore, is pecu- 

 liarly irkfome to our feelings, and every thing, that roufes and puts 

 in aft the inert faculties of man, accords with his nature, and power-' 

 fully draws him with a fecret charm. Every thing which tends to ex- 

 cite paffion, whether of wonder, fear, anger, hatred, love or pity, it 

 matters not, is of this kind. It relieves us from the liftleflhefs, the 

 weary ftagnation, which is fo irkfome to the fpirit. It is from this caufe, 

 that we catch with fo much eagernefs, at the delufions of popular ru- 

 mour ; they give employment to the mind. Fame defcends with her wings, 

 like the angel in fcripture, and agitates the ftagnant pool. Thus ne- 

 ceffary to our ftate and being here is credulity. It has often been em- 

 ployed, no doubt, with deftruSive artifice, by crafty pol'ticians. It has, 

 at times, contributed to hide from the people their true interefts, to 

 alienate them from their true friends, and to impel them to violent, ir- 

 rational, and atrocious meafures. But even the blind exceffes of cre- 

 dulity, and the wild paroxyfms of popular delufion have foraetiraes been 

 flcilfully feized, and wifely directed to the beft, and moft falutary purpofes. 

 The moft mortal poifons, as opium, hemlock, mercurial precipitate, and 



even 



